Metamorphosis – A Poem by Kailash Nath Khandelwal

I’ve lived a life of worldly pursuits,
A man of the world through and through
With fleeting moments of spirituality,
A nod to the customs I’ve known
Performed my duties, obligations and all.

But life had other plans, unpredictable as ever
It shattered the smooth rut I was in, leaving me shaken and unsure
No option but to accept, to surrender to the unknown
As things fell apart, like sand slipping through my hands
I was forced to seek new paths, to find solace in unfamiliar lands.

Fortune, the master planner, had other designs for me
Leaving luxury behind, I’m left with the bare essentials
A novice ascetic, I search for a place to call my own
A refuge from life’s turmoil, where
My soul can breathe and find its way back home.

In serene and silent seclusion, I seek solace and peace
A space to rediscover, to heal, and to find my way.